Riccarton Road upgrade

We're replacing underground water pipes and installing bus priority measures from Deans Avenue to Matipo Street. The bus priority and water pipe renewal are taking place at the same time to minimise disruption to the public.

There is a lot of work to complete both above and below the ground on Riccarton Road. The underground pipes are almost 100 years old and need replacing, and the road above has deteriorated and needs resurfacing and reshaping.

When the road is reconstructed, bus priority measures will be installed as Riccarton Road is one of the city's busiest bus routes. Around 3000 people board buses in Riccarton and more than 800 buses pass Westfield Riccarton each day.

The bus priority measures and underground pipe renewal are being done at the same time to minimise the disruption. The delivery of the project has been split into two stages:

Stage 1 – Deans Avenue to Harakeke Street

Stage 2 – Harakeke Street to Matipo Street

The work will cost $18.4 million. You can contact Council on 03 941 8999 (0800 800 169) or RiccartonRoad@ccc.govt.nz for more information.

Key features of stage 2

streetscape and landscape improvements including a tree-lined median in the Central Riccarton area

renewing underground water pipes (water supply and wastewater)

installing traffic lights and a pedestrian/cycle crossing at the railway line

cycle lane upgrade and additional cycle parking to be provided

reconstructing the road and marking out bus priority lanes.

Council owned car parks located between Rimu Street and Straven Road to be upgraded to P120 parks for shoppers

Key features of the tree-lined median include:

trees have a calming effect which slows traffic speeds

slower speeds and streetscape enhancements make the central Riccarton section more of a destination for shoppers

providing a refuge for pedestrians crossing the road

Plans for stage 2

Riccarton Road bus priority overview

Riccarton Road - Picton, Mandeville and Harakeke

Riccarton Road - Clarence, Rotherham and Rimu Streets

Riccarton Road - Matipo and Division Streets

Bus priority

A bus priority is used to give buses right of way over other vehicles when a road is heavily used.

By making changes to the road space, we can give priority to buses so that they stay on schedule and provide a good service to passengers, especially at peak times. These improvements will make it easier for people to bus, walk and bike to where they are going, and make Riccarton a more people-friendly place.

Riccarton Road is the second busiest transport corridor after the central city, bringing passengers from all over the city and linking them with other core routes. It has over 800 bus movements a day and around 3000 passengers boarding per weekday on this road alone.

Public transport allows more people to move along Riccarton Road at one time and the bus priority measures will provide more reliable bus travel, especially at peak times when people need to get to work or home.

The bus priority measures being installed along Riccarton Road include:

sections of bus lane on each side of the road

bus lights at traffic signals so buses can proceed ahead of general traffic

longer bus stops so alighting and departing is easier and quicker

Parking

Parking on Riccarton Road is being removed to allow space for the new road layout and bus priority.

The shopping car park that runs behind Riccarton Road between Rimu Street and Straven Road is partially owned by Council and the Council spaces are being upgraded to time restricted parking to assist with providing parking in the area.

This work will be completed first so that there is available parking for shoppers. A parking map will be distributed to show all the options.

Consultations

Results of the Council consultation on the 2015 Riccarton Road bus priority measures and Central Riccarton street enhancements.